View Full Version : Caring for my TC Gros Michel
BananasinAZ
01-02-2017, 11:14 AM
I bought some TC Gros Michels on ebay and planted the on December 15th in 3 gallon pots. I watered them with fish and kelp and for two weeks nothing happened.
I read a post on TC last week and decided to revisit my strategy. I plucked them out of the dirt and found no root activity at all. I broke up the root ball and gave the soil another watering with fish and kelp.
I treated the roots with mycorrhizae and replanted.
I used some spare fence to make a hoop and wrapped it in saran wrap.
I've been misting them everyday since(about 4 days now).
So far so good. they are looking more vigorous and the leaves are actually unfolding quickly.
I'm in Phoenix and right now were in a monsoon season(not like monsoons of other areas LOL). Ive been able to keep them at 60% humidity in their hoop.
I just ordered a Gold Finger and would love to hear some more strategies for growing TC's.
click on the photo and it will take you to the gallery.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=61094&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=61094)
edwmax
01-02-2017, 11:43 AM
Thank you for your post. You are confirming my suspicions that very young TC plantlets need elevated humidity (50% to 60%) or daily misting from a squirt bottle. My TC Gros Mich has put out a new sword leaf in the last 24 hours with daily misting for the past 2 weeks. ... Plastic over the plantlet for the first few weeks would certainly help.
This is proving the young TC's roots may or may not be strong enough to support the plantlet when received from the nursery. Without instructions from the seller/nursery otherwise, it is better to duplicate the conditions of the greenhouse until the plant show good growth.
You can read about my 5 TC plantlets in this thread.
http://www.bananas.org/f2/best-practice-grow-tc-bananas-46856.html
BananasinAZ
01-02-2017, 09:44 PM
I am most worried about the day I plant my babies outdoors here in Phoenix.
I am probably going to wait till October because of the extreme temps.
I think replicating the green house is better unless your in a naturally humid warm environment or purchased in spring near the last frost days.
Of course these are my assumptions and we all know what assuming does to us. Lol.
When I replant to a new pot or outside I will post a pic of the root ball.
edwmax
01-03-2017, 07:24 AM
Banana plant seem to grow much faster when planted outside. In your area, I suggest planting the banana so it will have shade from direct hot sunlight. Watch the angle of the sun and ground shaded areas during the hot season; and the open ares during the cooler winter months. If possible locate the plant in the cooler areas with hot season shade.
Slowly reduce the humidity of the new TC plants to that of the room as the plant shows grow. This should only that 2 or 3 weeks. Then just mist the leaves. ... I have found that my bigger potted DC banana plants are doing better inside with daily misting. ... This is a natural function of the large leaves of tropical plants to collect dew during drier weather. So I will be looking to install sprinklers (misting ??) at my outdoor banana patches next year.
A benefit of planting TC plants that has not yet been publicly exploited is to seasonally plant new plants to grow fruit each year. TC plantlets (98% success) are reported to grow to fruiting in 10 months vs 12 to 14 months of sucker plants. With timing, this would make it possible to plant bananas like a garden in milder areas of the US for fruit production. ... just my opinion; I will be testing this out for the next couple of years.
good luck with your plants and keep the forum posted as to your progress.
venturabananas
01-03-2017, 04:36 PM
...A benefit of planting TC plants that has not yet been publicly exploited is to seasonally plant new plants to grow fruit each year. TC plantlets (98% success) are reported to grow to fruiting in 10 months vs 12 to 14 months of sucker plants.
I think this information is being presented out of context. Those results are from studies in the tropics, as far as I know. Outside of the true banana zone, I think you'll find that TCs are slower than suckers. But if you can replicate tropical conditions with a greenhouse during the cooler season, maybe you can achieve similar results.
edwmax
01-03-2017, 07:56 PM
I think this information is being presented out of context. Those results are from studies in the tropics, as far as I know. Outside of the true banana zone, I think you'll find that TCs are slower than suckers. But if you can replicate tropical conditions with a greenhouse during the cooler season, maybe you can achieve similar results.
This is what experimenting is for. And, obviously you cut off part of the quote where I stated it was just my opinion making to quote out of context.
However, I spoke with Dr.### (not giving name at present) of the U of Ga experiment station at Tifton, a banana expert, this morning. He agreed this was possible and is interested. Of course this is base on using 'short cycle' type bananas and those being developed for growth in Georgia; and timing of growing the TC the first 4 to 5 months though the winter for field planting in the spring. ... But first I have to lean how to grow the TC with a good success rate. BananasinAZ's post above has/is confirming humidity control is very important environmental factor for young TC plantlets.
edwmax
01-04-2017, 09:37 AM
OH ... in the 'Banana Zone' as you called it, doing the garden concept with the standard banana varieties of the area should be even easier.
venturabananas
01-04-2017, 12:49 PM
I don't disagree with the concept of growing bananas as an annual. Though it will only work with fast-cycle varieties in places they grow fast during spring-fall (e.g., not California, but probably Georgia would be fine). I thought someone from UGA had already been pushing that idea with Veinte Cohol. I just wanted any naive, potential readers to understand that how quickly TC plants grow will depend on context. Grown outdoors in southern California, they are much slower to fruit than large pups.
Regarding growing small TC plants, my limited experience is that tiny plants just out of the "incubator" do need special care and very high humidity and warmth, but the hardened ones that are available from online nurseries don't need care any more specialized than you'd give most any tropical plant. E.g., don't put them straight into full sun, keep them reasonably warm, and don't expose them to really dry air (e.g., Santa Ana conditions in southern CA).
BananasinAZ
01-04-2017, 07:31 PM
Here's a video of the Dr from Georgia https://youtu.be/kwt8lAfwsXs
You might have to copy the link.
BananasinAZ
01-04-2017, 07:41 PM
The one I received are very small. Only two leaves and about 5" high.
I recently ordered a goldfinger; dwarf Brazilian and another gros michel.
I'll try a couple with out the cover which would make it around 40-50% humidity.
I have a spot that get obstructed light not quite shade in the back yard I'm thinking about.
The one thing I don't have right now for them is a light. Right now they're dependent on window light.
edwmax
01-05-2017, 09:06 AM
Here's a video of the Dr from Georgia https://youtu.be/kwt8lAfwsXs
You might have to copy the link.
That's him ... :bananas_b
edwmax
01-05-2017, 09:10 AM
The one I received are very small. Only two leaves and about 5" high.
I recently ordered a goldfinger; dwarf Brazilian and another gros michel.
I'll try a couple with out the cover which would make it around 40-50% humidity.
I have a spot that get obstructed light not quite shade in the back yard I'm thinking about.
The one thing I don't have right now for them is a light. Right now they're dependent on window light.
If they are getting 4 or 5 hours a day of direct sun light that should be enough. I did hang a 2 bulb fluorescent 6500k over my inside plants.
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